China is set to launch its Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship at 4:27 a.m. on Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced Tuesday.
The mission will carry Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze to the country's space station. Cai, a member of the Shenzhou-14 crew, will serve as the mission commander, while Song and Wang, from the third batch of taikonauts, embark on their first spaceflight.
The Shenzhou-19 crew is scheduled to remain in orbit for approximately six months, concluding their mission with a return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late April or early May next year.
During their time in space, the crew will welcome the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship and the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft, enhancing the space station's capabilities.
Major Purposes
The Shenzhou-19 mission marks the fourth crewed mission in the application and development phase of China's space station and the 33rd mission of the nation's manned space program.
Throughout their six-month stay, the crew will perform various tasks including an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 crew, conducting space science and application tests, performing extravehicular activities, transporting cargo, installing space debris shelters, and handling extravehicular payloads and equipment. Additionally, they will engage in popular science education and public welfare activities to boost the space station's operational efficiency.
86 Space Sci-Tech Experiments
The mission will conduct a total of 86 space science research and technological experiments, focusing on biological and physical space science. These experiments are part of China's newly released medium- and long-term development plan for space science from 2024 to 2050.
Research areas include the structural analysis of protein crystals grown under microgravity, the nonequilibrium dynamics of soft matter, space life science, microgravity basic physics, space materials science, space medicine, and new space technology. Anticipated achievements include advancements in fundamental theories, new material preparation, space radiation mechanisms, and the physiological and biological effects of microgravity and hypomagnetic fields.
A report detailing the space station's scientific research and application progress for 2024 will be released to commemorate the second anniversary of the station's completion, highlighting key scientific and application mission achievements.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
